Lunch-box.



S. ARAKAWA;

LUNCH BOX.

APPLICATION ElLED MAY 18. 1915.

Patented May16, 1916.

WITNESSES:

A TTORNE Y5.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ,CO., WASHINGTON, n. c

sumo ARAKAWA; or. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

" tnncrr iaox.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHIRo ARAKAWA, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of .Vvashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lunch-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. o

This invention relates to boxes, and more especially to those which are adapted to'be folded into small compass; and the object of the invention is to produce a folding or knock-down lunch box which when opened or set up will contain sufiicient food and drink for the average lunch, butwhich when folded or closed may be put into the pocket. This object is carried out by constructing the box in a peculiar, manner as more fully described and claimed below and as shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of this lunch box set up ready for-use,- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the drinking cup, partly broken away, Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is an end view of the box in itsfolded condition.

While this device may be of anyfsuitable size and material, I would prefer to makeit of metal such as light tin japanned or. otherwise treated to prevent rust, with its corners rounded so that it may slip intov and out of the pocket with ease; but I do not wish to be limited in this respect, nor as to the use of the device as itis quite obvious that if made on a larger scale it would be serviceable for shipping goods and could be returned by-the consignee to the shipper in folded condition. I will describe the invention, however, as appliedto a lunch box, and when so used it will have'a compart-j ment to contain cofiee or other beverage.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the base which is a flat bottom upturned around its sides for a, short dis tance, 2, 2 are the two side pa'nels,.3, 3 are the two end panels, and 13 designates the cover which consistsof a flat top plate downturned around its sides as shown and containing an inner plate 13 whereby a reser- Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented May 1 1916.

Application filed May 18, 1915. Serial No. 29,002.

which this reservoir can be filled when empty. In Fig. 2 is shown a telescopic drlnking cup 15 whose lower section is shouldered at 15 :and threaded at '15 beneath the shoulder so that it may screw into the nipple l4 and close the same, the other sections telescoping at this time around the lower section as seen in Fig. 1. The upper section may carry a cover 15 hinged at one side thereto and held closed by a latch 15 at its other side. As above suggested, this reservoir and the nipple and its closuremay be omitted if the device is not used as a' lunch box. 1

The upper edges'of the sides of the base and, the lower edges of the side panels have inter-engaging knuckles 18 through which passes arod 11 serving as a pintle for the hinge connection thus produced, and at certainpoints ,tongues'or stops 12 depend rigidly from theknuckles of the panel to rest against the sideplate and hold the panel upright as seen in Fig. 1. In similarmannerv the endpanels 3 are hinged. at 16' to the I end plates of the base,,but each panel is fast on. its. pintle rod 7 whereas the rod is -jour- I naled in the knuckles 16 of the end plates. When the end panels stand upright. they are held fromfalling out by inturned lips 2 at the extremities of the side panels 2, but

whenthe end panels are turned inward and downward as-seen in Fig. 5, the side panels .may-then fall inward and downward onto them. 'At this time the thicknessof the box is only a trifle greater; than the thickness of thebase and the cover, and-tl1e lower edges of the'side plates of the latter carry flanges 19 j which pass" over and inclose all hinge lines at this time.

"-Throughout the length of thepbase extends a, shaft 6 having beveled gears 4' on its extremities, and at the mid-length of the rods 7 are other beveled gears 5 meshingwiththem. Rising rigidly from the shaft just inside each of its gears and along the end ofthe box,is alever 8'; and the parts are'so' proportioned that when this lever stands upright .as seen in Fig.1 1 the end panels 3 are upright, whereas when the lever is turned down as seen in Fig. 5' the inter-meshing gears cause the endpanels to turn down so as to permit the side panels to fall inward onto them. The bail or handle 8 is of inverted U-shape, its arms passing down by the ends of the cover and being oivoted at 9 to the upper ends of the levers,

With the device set" up as'seen in Fig 1," when the handle is drawn toward the front .p

and released from the spring tips 10', and

then pushed bodily t he rear, the piv 'fi,

points 9 swing around the shaft'6 and the levers are depressed to the position :shown in Fig. 5. When the center of the handle rests on the top of the cover, its ends may be reengaged under the latches, and the box will now stand closed. To open or setup the box a reversal ofthis operation is necessary. Raising thehandleof course raises the levers, and this movement through :the inter-meshing gears turns the end panels around their hingelines 16. As tlIByfI'iSB they swing the side panels 2 around their hinge lines 18 until they are upright and are held. in that position by "the stops 12, and by this time the lips 2 comeinto position at the corners of the box to limit the outward movement of the end panels. The entire cover may now be bodilyraised by sliding the latches upward along the ends of the handle, and the lunchiplaced inside, after which the cover is dropped'into plaee and its'fiange 19 holds'itthere. 'l h'er'eservoir may be filled by 'unscrewing'ithedri'nking cup, and when the latter is replaced it acts as a closure for the nipple 14.

What I claim isi r -1. knock-down :lunch box comprising a coverhaving down-turned sides and an outstanding flange along their loweredges, a base, side and end panels hinged "respectively to the sides and ends of 'the -base, inturned lips-at the extremities of the side panels, ahandle pivoted tothe base, and sliding connections between it and the -end panels for raisingjthe latter against said lips as thehandleis raised a11d' fo1ding the end panels as the handle is depressed. 2. A knock-down boxcomprising a base, side and end panels hinged respectively to the' sides and ends of-the base, aswinging handle pivoted in the "base, intermeshing gears fixed on the handle and on the 'hinges of the end panels whereby the latter are raised as the shaftis raised, and means *for limiting the upward movements of all panels.

'3. A knock-downllunch box comprising a i base,ea cover, side and end panels hinged respectively to the sides and ends of the base, a shaftjournaled through-the base, a swinging handle rigid withthe shaft, intermeshing gears on the-shaft and onthehinges tend panels whereby the latter are raised as the shaft is raised, and means for limiting the upward movements of all anels.

A. A knock-down box comprising a base,

'Is ideand end panels hinged respeetive1 t the sides and ends of the base, a shaft jourfnaledthroughthe base, a swinging handle rigid with the shaft, inter-meshing gears on the shaft and'on the hinges of the end panels whereby'the latter are raised as the shaft is raised, inturned lips at the extremities-of the side panels for limiting the up- Ward movement of the end panels, and stops on'the side panels contacting with the base when they-are raised for limiting their upward movement.

"5. Ina "knock-down box, the combination with a base having upturned side plates around it, a cover consisting of a top plate and down turned sides, two side panels hingedattheir'lower ends to the side plates o'f-lthe base, andtwo'end panels having rods 'alo'ng their lower ends hinged to the end plates of-1the base; of beveled gears fast on said rods a shaftjournaled through the end plates of the-base, beveled gears thereon meshing'with those first named, levers risingfri'gidlyilfrom-the shaft near its gears, a handle of inverted -U-shape whosearms pass by the endslof the cover and are pivoted to said levers, and means on said cover for engaging said arms.

6. 1n Ia knock-down box, the combination with a base having upturned side plates on meshing -with those first named, levers 7 rising rigidly from the shaft nearits gears, a handle having upright arms pivoted to the'upper ends of said levers, and on each end plate of "the cover a spring latch having one-endsecuredthereto and its tip free to de'tachably engage one'of the arms ofthe handle. p 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presenc'e'of two'witnesses.

f SHIRO ARAKAWA.

Wi tnessesz G.- WARD KEMP, T. 5D."-I{ATAYAMA.

copiesof thin patentmay be ohtainedrtor flvetcents eachfby 'a'ddreuingithe Commissioner of Patents.

wnmnmmmaow a 

